CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn the former site of Adswood Tip into a giant car park for Manchester Airport are back on the agenda.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn the former site of Adswood Tip into a giant car park for Manchester Airport are back on the agenda.

Airparks Services wants to renegotiate the terms it offered as part of being given planning permission for the 1,700-space development on appeal in 2002.

It had offered to close its Handforth Dean car park within three months of opening up at the Adswood Road site.

But after securing a longer than expected lease at Handforth, Airparks now wants to provide a "goodwill gesture", such as a community facility, for Stockport Council instead.

Martin Dyke, solicitor for Airparks said: "My clients would prefer to maintain and continue good relations with the communities in which they operate. They would wish to be good neighbours and not behave aggressively.

"Airparks are confident that when the site is fully operational there will be clear local employment benefits. Airparks will not be averse to some further payment in terms of planning gain to the general benefit of the community.

"They have already paid to Stockport Council a contribution of £50,000 to be used for CCTV equipment."

The issue was debated at a planning committee meeting this week and was referred to Victoria, Bramhall and Cheadle area committees.

Councillors will decide whether to attempt enforcement of the original agreement or, instead, what goodwill gesture - known as planning gain - will be asked for.

Mr Dyke has told planning officers the former may not be legally possible.

Stockport Council originally rejected Airparks proposal in 2001 on the grounds it promoted environmentally unfriendly car use.

But when the planning inspectorate overturned the decision the council said it had also changed its mind.

Holidaymakers would leave their cars before being bused to Manchester Airport.

A spokesman for Stockport Council said: "An undertaking was given to the planning inspectorate (in 2002) that activity in Handforth would cease.

"We do not have a stance on the issue yet it is being sent to area committees for consultation before a decision."